June 2012

June 27, 2012

Dark Skies Takes a Leap Foward

At the June 12 Ojai City Council meeting, Scott Kardel of the International Dark-Skies Association, gave a well-received presentation on why we want dark skies and need an exterior lighting ordinance to support it.

Watch it here:

Scott then met with city staff and community members to discuss the details of the ordinance. We look forward to a revised ordinance that educates and progresses us toward our goal of being a recognized Dark Skies community.

A big thank you to George Berg and Gail Topping for sponsoring Scott and to Scott for taking the time and making the effort to travel from Arizona to support our community.

Creek Habitat Restoration

The Coalition, working under a C.R.E.W. grant, wrapped up its Libbey Park Ojai Creek restoration volunteer work days for the season collaborating with Ojai Trees. Ojaitrees.org provided trees (under its dedication program) and the volunteers to help plant them.

Thanks to the C.R.E.W., Ojai Trees and all that have contributed to this ongoing creek habitat restoration project.

June 5, 2012

Energizing Ojai

Typically summertime is the time when energy consumption starts to soar higher and higher. Factors such as increased air-conditioning loads, pool pumps having to run longer, and children who are on vacation from school mean using more power at home. In addition to this, all the extra water needed to keep plants alive in the hot Ojai summer uses a tremendous amount of power to treat and pump.

Dark Skies Initiative (Next Step, More Support Needed)

The Coalition has supported the diligent work of members Gail Topping and George Berg for over five years now to prevent the further increase of light pollution in our valley and hopefully reverse the trend. The full scope of our Dark Skies Initiative is to protect wildlife, cut energy waste and minimize light pollution.

At its May 12 meeting the City Planning Commission, after reviewing the lighting ordinance developed by city staff to replace the existing ordinance, requested further direction from City Council to write a better ordinance.

To help a representative from the International Dark Sky Association based in Arizona will present to the City Council and meet with city representatives to answer questions and help develop our local lighting ordinance to best meet our community needs now and in the future. PLEASE COME OUT TO THE JUNE 12 CITY COUNCIL MEETING at 7 p.m. to welcome our out of town guest and let city officials know this is an important issue. What was a fringe environmental conversation even five years ago is now front and center and being seriously discussed at different government levels around the world. Dark Skies are not only important to wildlife, energy conservation and stopping light pollution, but also an important component of our local tourist economy. Imagine a visitor being so taken by the night skies over Ojai and learning why that is important, that she starts a Dark Skies effort back home.

Creek Habitat Restoration - June 16th

Creek Habitat RestorationSat, June 16, 9:30am – 1:00pmWhere Libbey Park, Ojai (Map)Description Last Call until Fall to Help with Creek Habitat Restoration Please join the Ojai Valley Green Coalition and The C.R.E.W. on Saturday morning June 16th to help out with the ongoing creek restoration project in lower Libbey Park, downtown Ojai. Volunteers can just show up, but should check in by 9:30 a.m. at the volunteer sign-up table next to the old jail building in the lower Libbey Park. The work will go on until about 1:00 p.m. Those under the age of 18 will need liability release waivers signed by a parent or guardian. If coming by car, you can park at the lower Libbey parking lot off of South Montgomery Street and follow the signs. Wear a hat, long pants and long sleeves with closed-toed shoes or boots. We will be removing invasive non-native plants, planting native trees and shrubs and mulching with cardboard and woodchips.
The Coalition will provide work gloves, tools, water and snacks. For more information please contact david@ojaivalleygreencoalition.com or call (805) 669-8445.